Summer Grading Policy

Students receive letter grades in all courses for which they are registered. Grades are assigned on the basis of coursework, examinations, written papers, attendance, preparation, and progress.

While Columbia students are abroad, they are graded according to the grading system that their home school uses. For Columbia’s grading system, please visit: http://registrar.columbia.edu/content/grading-system

Students from other schools are graded in the same manner as Columbia students. The Columbia grading scale uses letter grades. Plus and minus letter grades may also be used.

Individual programs may have specific grading policies. Please see the academics section of your program's website for these.

Please note the following:

The Pass/D/Fail Option

This option is not available to students because of program guidelines that require students to be fully engaged while taking courses abroad in order to gain the most out of the intensive nature of the academic experience.

The Mark of a W (Withdrawal)

This option is not available to students because of program guidelines that require students to be fully engaged while taking courses abroad in order to gain the most out of the intensive nature of the academic experience.

The Mark of AR (Administrative Referral)

Given to Columbia College and General Studies students as a temporary grade in circumstances when a student’s irregular academic behavior in class merits something other than grades A through F, to allow for time for the instructor to consult with the appropriate individuals about the situation. AR is not a permanent grade but, rather, is designed to allow faculty a reasonable default grade for use until an appropriate permanent grade can be submitted. Ultimately, the decision as to what the final grade should be will rest with the individual instructor.

The Mark of INC (Incomplete)

This can only be granted by UGE in consultation with the Faculty Director for students who cannot complete their course work or are unable to take a final examination. The only reasons for which an INC will be granted are incapacitating illness, as certified by a medical professional, serious family emergency, or circumstances of comparable gravity. Students who wish to receive the mark of INC must petition the Director in writing before the last day of classes, in the case of course work, or no later than the day before the final examination when requesting permission to miss the examination. To be granted an INC, it is expected that students will have completed all work in the class with the exception of the final project or exam. Students who are granted an INC are assigned a deadline for completion of the overdue work or a date by which a deferred examination must be taken. Those who fail to meet the assigned deadline or miss the deferred examination will then have the missing work graded as a “zero” and the grade for the course calculated accordingly.

The mark of R (Registration Credit)

This is not available for summer courses.